Comparative studies of cadmium and mercury accumulation by LLC-PK1 cells: Effects of pH on uptake and efflux

Effects of pH on internalization, membrane-binding and efflux of Cd were investigated in LLC-PK1 cells and these effects were compared with those of inorganic mercury (Hg). The cells cultured on monolayers were incubated for 30 min in phosphate buffer at pH 5.5, 6.4 or 7.4 containing 1 mu M Cd or Hg. After the incubation, the cells were washed with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) or PBS containing chelating agent (EGTA or BAL) to remove membrane-bound Cd or Hg. The decrease in pH significantly decreased Cd concentration in the cells washed with PBS and with PBS-EGTA, and apparently increased the efflux of Cd from the cells. Similar changes were found in Hg concentration in the cells washed with PBS-BAL and Hg efflux from the cells, but these changes in Hg were less significant than those in Cd, respectively. The decrease in pH increased Hg concentration in the cells washed with PBS, unlike that of Cd. These results suggest that a decrease in pH decreases the internalized Cd as a result of the decrease in membrane-bound Cd and the increase in Cd efflux. The decrease in pH also appears to decrease the internalized Hg by increasing Hg efflux and to increase the membrane-bound Hg.